Therapeutic apparatus



Jan. 25, 1955 BRAND 2,700,382

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1950 s Sheet-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HARRYRUSSELL BRAND, DECEASED, IBY EMILY MARl AN N BRAND, EX GUTRIX.

TT NEY Jan. 25, 1955 H. R. BRAND 2,700,332

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I66 I64 I 5FIG. 4-

Llllllllllllllllllllll INVENTOR. HARRY RUSSELL BRAND, DECEASED, BY EMILYMQ/RY ANN 'BRAND, EXECUTRIX.

ATTORNEY Jan. 25, 1955 H. R. BRAND THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed Oct. 11, 1950 FIG 5 IN V EN TOR.

DECEASED,

UTRIX.

HARRY RUSSELL BRAND, BY EMiLY MARY ANN BRAND, EXEC ATTORNEY Jan. 25,1955 H. R. BRAND THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 11,1950 FIG.7

FIG.8

l"IiIlIIIiII/Illllllli INVENTOR. HARRY RUSSELL BRAND, DECEASED, BY EMILYMARY ANN BRAND, EXEGUTRIX.

Jan. 25, 1955 BRAND 2,700,382

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TIME

T325 HORIZONTAL gm lO92 l66 .3: 1-$58 I94 BELOW ABOVE E! HORIZONTALHORIZONTAL Q INVENTOR.

/ CONTROL HARRY RUSSELL BRAND, DECEASED, BY EMILY MARY ANN BRANEXECUTRIX400 BY PROGRAM START SPEED TIMER CONTROL ATTORNEY THERAPEUTIC APPARATUSHarry Russell Brand, deceased, late of New York, N. Y., by Emily MaryAnn Brand, executrix, New York, N. Y.

Application October 11, SW50, Serial No. 189,507

18 Claims. (Cl. 128-33) This invention relates to therapeutic apparatusfor use in the treatment of patients suffering from ailments or diseaseswhich may advantageously be treated or relieved by insuring a thoroughand complete circulation of the blood. More particularly the inventionrelates to therapeutic apparatus which operates in such manner thatgravity is utilized to aid the heart action in effecting the circulationof the blood.

Therapeutic apparatus designed to utilize gravity in assisting the heartto effect a proper circulation of the blood is usually provided with asupport or bed upon which the patient reclines and with means foroscillating this support or bed so that the support or bed, with thepatient thereon, may be brought into different inclinations to thehorizontal, whereby the blood may first be aided in its flow to theextremities and then aided in its return from the extremities, thenecessary rapidity of this oscillating movement and its continuityvarying considerably for different ailments. For example, among the manydifferent treatments now prescribed in vascular diseases is the Bergertreatment which consists in a cycle of alternating movements and periodsof rest; first with the bottom of the feet on the floor for a period ofapproximately 1 /2 minutes, next with the feet level with the body forapproximately 2 /2 minutes, and third with the feet far above the headfor a period of approximately 2 minutes. In other treatments prescribedfor vascular ailments the support, on which the patient lies prone, isoscillated between a position in which the feet are lower than the headand a position in which the feet are higher than the head and in suchcases it is sometimes desirable that there be a period of rest at theend of each movement of the patients support or bed in either direction.The treatment may also vary with different patients in respect to theamplitude of the oscillating movement, the rapidity thereof, thedistance of the movement above and below the horizontal and therelationship between the speed of movementbetween the extreme positionsand the rest period at each extreme position.

A general object of the present invention is to provide therapeuticapparatus of the class described which can easily be adjusted to theparticular requirements of any patient and which has a comparativelywide range of possible adjustments.

Among the advantages of the comparatively wide range of adjustmentsprovided for in the therapeutic apparatus of the present invention isthe possibility of saving time in giving a treatment by reducing thetime of travel between the starting and stopping points of a movementfrom one position of the support or bed to another and increasing thetime of rest at each of the extreme positions or at either of them.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention aims toprovide means for effecting the raising and lowering of one end of anordinary hospital or other bed which is adaptable to substantially anytype of hospital or other bed and which, therefore, does not require thesupport for the patient to be a permanent part of the therapeuticapparatus. The invention further aims so to connect the raising andlowering mechanism to the patients bed that the bed itself will beinsulated from any vibrations from the mechanism of the apparatus and soto construct the raising and lowering apparatus itself thatsubstantially all noises and vibrations which would be objectionable ina hospital are eliminated from its operation.

nited States Patent "ice An important feature of the invention is theprovision of means in the raising and lowering apparatus forcounterbalancing not only the weight of that part of the bed which issupported by the apparatus during the raising and lowering movements butalso that part of the weight of the patient which must be raised andlowered. By thus counterbalancing the weight to be moved the powerrequired for effecting the movements between the various circulatingaiding positions is reduced to a minimum. This is an importantconsideration in therapeutic apparatus of this type since frequently itis called upon to operate 24 hours per day.

Another important feature of the invention is the arrangement of thelifting and lowering mechanism so that it operates on one end only ofthe bed, thus disturbing as little as possible a patients comfort, theapparatus being usually connected to the foot end of the bed so that thehead of the patient is not raised and lowered to any extent. It will beunderstood, however, that if the doctor wishes to prescribe a treatmentin which the patients head is to be raised and lowered it will only benecessary to place the head of the patient at the foot of the bed.

Other objects, advantages and important features of the invention towhich reference has not hereinabove specifically been directed willappear hereinafter when the following description and claims areconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a side elevation on a considerably reduced scale of the apparatusof the present 1nvention connected to an ordinary hospital bed in whicha short-legged footboard end has been substituted for the regularfootboard to permit tilting of the foot end of the bed below horizontalposition, this view showing only the outer casing of the raising andlowering mechanism;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation on a considerably larger scale of theraising and lowering mechanism in its enclosing casing, that is, a viewfrom the bed side of the casing;

Figure 3 is a plan view on the same scale as Fig. 1 of the mechanismhousing of the foot end of the bed and of the connections between themechanism and the bed;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the raising and loweringmechanism on the line 44 of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the raising and loweringmechanism substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a transverse section on a somewhat larger scale through theswitch operating mechanism on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail view, partly broken away and partly in section, ofone of the switch-carrying slides and a part of the lead screw by whichvertical adjustment of the slide is effected, this view being on a scalecorresponding to Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a detail view on a scale substantially that of Fig. 5 of oneof the indicator mechanisms for showing the stroke length of theoscillating movement above or below the horizontal, there being one ofthese mechanisms for the movement above the horizontal and another forthe movement below the horizontal;

Figure 9 is a vertical section on the line 99 of Figure 10 showing oneof the coil springs-used in urging the indicator wheel in one direction;

Figure 10 is a rear elevation of the indicator mechanisms for the ,twostroke adjustments, this view also showing a part of the strokeadjusting mechanism;

Figure 11 is a side elevation, with parts shown in section, of the upperswitch adjusting mechanism for adjusting the upper limit of that part ofthe oscillating movement which is above the horizontal, this view alsoshowing the upper end of the lower switch adjusting mechanism;

Figure 12 isa vertical sectional detail, looking from the left in Fig.11, through the mechanism for effecting the turning of the switchadjusting screws;

Figure 13 is a wiring diagram, and

Figure 14 is a plan view of the control board or panel.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention the therapeuticapparatus is shown as comprising essentially a device that may beattached to any bed, and particularly any hospital bed, on which thepatient to be treated reclines, this mechanism being enclosed in ahousing 2 mounted upon casters 4 so that the apparatus may be easilymoved into operative relation to the bed to be oscillated and whenconnected thereto can be moved with the bed into different positions inthe hospital room or ward. In Figure 2 it will be seen that the housing2 is provided with vertical slots 6 which communicate inside the casingwith vertical tubes 8 in each of which a slide 10 is arranged to slidevertically, the slide 19 being provided with a slot 12 having therein atransverse pin 14 to be engaged by a link 16 having a hooked end 18adapted to hook over the pin 14 to connect the bed to the slide 10 sothat the bed will partake of the vertical movements of the slide 10.

As hereinabove suggested, there is preferably substituted for the usualfootboard of the hospital bed, having legs of the same length as theheadboard, a footboard 20 having short legs so that the foot end of thebed may swing below its normal horizontal position. Extending across theshort legs 22 of the footboard 20 is an angle bar 24 having at its endssockets 26 which receive the ends of the legs 20, these sockets 26preferably having therein rubber cushions, not shown, to insulate thelegs 20 from vibrations that might be imparted thereto by the operationsof the mechanism in the housing 2. It will be seen that there are twolinks 16, one for each slot 6, connected in any suitable manner to theangle bar 24, as, for example, by welding, so that when these links 16are hooked over the pins 14 a positive and firm connection is made tothe raising and lowering mechanism of the therapeutic bed oscillatingattachment.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each of the slides 10 is connected by asprocket chain 28, passing over a sprocket wheel 30 on a shaft 32 andover an idler sprocket wheel 34 on a shaft 36, to a counterweight 38,the counterweight extending across the entire front of the machine andbeing connected to both sprocket chains 28. It will be seen that thecounterweight is made up of bars 40 strung on a hanger 42 so thatdifferent bed and patient weights may be counterbalanced thereby. Thecounterweight is preferably guided at its ends in guideways 44,preferably of plastic material for sound deadening purposes.

Movement of the slides 10 up and down in the guide tubes 8, suchmovement being transmitted through the links 16 to the bed 46, iseffected by turning the shaft 32 to which the sprocket wheels 30 areconnected in one direction or the other according as the foot end of thebed is to be lowered or lifted. Turning movement is imparted to theshaft 32 through connections to an electric motor 48, such connectionsincluding a V-belt pulley 50 on the driving shaft of the motor 48 which,through a V-belt 52, drives a second V-belt pulley 54 attached to theshaft of a reduction gear mechanism, not shown in detail but enclosedwithin a housing 56, the reduction ratio being comparatively large, forexample 900 to 1 for a motor running at a speed of 1800 R. P. M. Theslow speed shaft of the reduction gearing carries a sprocket wheel 58through which turning movement is transmitted from the motor 48 throughchain 60 and sprocket wheel 62 to the shaft 32 and through said shaft tothe sprockets 39 which effect the lifting and lowering movements of theslides 10.

From the connections between the motor 48 and the slides 10 justdescribed it will be seen that movement of the slides in one directionrequires rotation of the motor in a certain direction and that a reversemovement of the slides requires reversal of the direction of rotation ofthe motor. To effect the stopping of the motor after the slides 10 havecarried the foot end of the bed 46 to the desired inclination to thehorizontal in one direction, a switch is provided which is so locatedthat it operates to break the motor driving circuit, either directly orthrough a relay, preferably the latter, when the slides 10 have reachedthe position for which the apparatus has been set.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention two of these switchesare preferably provided at each end of the path of travel of the slides10, these switches being connected in parallel and the extra switchbeing in the nature of safety mechanism to insure energization of themotor circuit breaking relay switch in the event that one of theswitches fails to act. designated generally by the reference numeral 64at- The upper pair of switches tached to the switch operating arms(Figs. 6 and 11) are mounted on a slide 66 which is adjustable by meansof a lead screw 68 to different operating positions. The switch arms 64carry rollers 70 projecting into the path of movement of thecounterweight 38 so that the counterweight, when it engages the rollers70, rocks these switches into closed position. It will be seen,therefore, that by adjusting the switch carrying slide 66 to differentvertical heights the amount of movement imparted to the slides 10 by themotor 48 before the motor circuit operating circuit is broken can befixed.

It will be seen that the upper switches 64 control the extent ofmovement of the slides 10 downwardly, that is their movement to carrythe foot end of the bed below its normal horizontal position, theswitches 64 being engaged by the counterweight on its upward movement.It will be seen, therefore, that the higher the adjusted position of theslide 66 the greater will be the downward inclination of the bed,connected to the slides 10 through the links 16, at the end of thedownward movement of the slides 10.

The lower switches likewise designated generally by the referencenumeral 72 attached to the switch operating arms (Fig. 5), like theupper ones, are carried on a slide 74 (Fig. 4) which may be adjustedvertically by a lead screw 76. These switch arms 72 carry rollers '78projecting into the path of movement of the counterweight 38 so thatwhen engaged thereby these switches are closed and serve to break themotor operating circuit, preferably through a relay-operated switch.These switches 72 control the extent of the upward stroke of thebed-oscillating mechanism, that is the extent of the upward movement ofthe slides 10, connected through the links 16 to the foot of the patientsupporting bed. From this it will be seen that the lower the adjustmentof the slides 74 the greater will be the length of the upward movementof the slides 10 and therefore the greater the upward inclination of thefoot of the bed to the horizontal at the end of the upward movement ofthe slides 10.

The mechanism for turning the lead screws 68 and '76 to effect theadjustment of the switch carrying slides 66 and 74 is shown particularlyin Figures 4, 10, 11 and 12. The lead screw 68 is located betweenupright frame members 80 and 82, and, as shown in greater detail inFigures 11 and 12, the lead screw 68 has a smooth cylindrical end 84extending through a bearing 86 and having at its lower end a bevelpinion 88 engaging a bevel pinion 90 on a short shaft 92 extendingthrough the upright frame member 82. At the other end of the short shaft92 is a sprocket wheel 94 connected by a sprocket chain 96 to a sprocketwheel 98 on a sleeve 99 on the stationary shaft 100. A crosspiece 182between the uprights 80 and 82 has mounted thereon a freely turningbevel gear 104 which serves merely to take up any lateral thrust on thehorizontal shaft 92. Also mounted on the sleeve 99 and attached theretoto turn with the sleeve and sprocket 98 is a bevel pinion 166 engaging abevel pinion 108 on a shaft 109 extending through a bearing 118 on theunder face of the dial plate 112, the shaft 109 at its upper end beingprovided with a key pin 114 for receiving a key by which the shaft 109may be turned to effect the vertical adjustment of the slide 66 throughthe connections just described.

Mounted on the sleeve 99 on the shaft is a sprocket wheel 146 and anindicator wheel 148, the indications on which can be read through anopening 158 in the dial plate 112. The indicator wheel 148 and sprocketWheel 146 are connected together to turn synchronously and inside theindicator wheel is a coil spring 152 connected at one end at 154 to theindicator wheel and at its inner end at 156 to the shaft 100, which is afixed shaft held against turning. A ladder or sprocket chain 155, partlywrapped about and fixed at its upper end at 166 to the sprocket Wheel146 and connected at its lower end to an arm 162 attached to the slide66, serves to transmit the adjustments of the slide 66 to the indicatorwheel 148 through the sprocket wheel 146, the coil spring 152 tending torotate the sprocket wheel 146 in the clockwise direction in Figure 8 sothat the chain 158 is maintained taut between the sprocket wheel and theslide 66, whereby the indicator wheel 148 indicates accurately theposition of the slide. The indications 164 on the indicator wheel 148may be of any suitable character such, for example, as figures showingthe extent of the movement in inches of the slide 10 below the positionin which it holds thefoot of the bed horizontal.

There is a similar indicator wheel 166 for the position of the slide 74,this indicator wheel being mounted upon a sleeve 168 on the shaft 100 towhich is also attached a sprocket wheel 170 of like construction to thesprocket wheel 146. A coil spring similar to the coil spring 152 islocated in the indicator wheel 166 and tends to urge said wheel to turnin the direction to maintain the chain 172, Fig. 4, connected to the arm174 on the slide 74, in taut condition so that the indications 164 onthe wheel 166 will show accurately the extent of the movement of theslides 10 above the position in which they would hold the bed inhorizontal position.

In this connection it will be noted that the sprocket wheel 130 fixedupon the sleeve 168 is connected by a sprocket chain 131 to the sprocket126 which through shaft 124 and bevel pinion 122 turns the. lower switchslide adjusting screw 76. Turning of the sleeve 168 to effect theturning of the sprocket 130 is effected through a bevel pinion 134attached to the sleeve 168 and engaging a bevel pinion 136 on thevertical adjusting shaft 138 mounted in bearings 140 on the under sideof the dial plate 112. The key pin 142 on shaft 138 corresponds to andhas the same function as the key pin 114 on shaft 109.

When the apparatus is to be used to treat the patient in accordance withthe so-called Berger treatment, here'- inabove defined, an intermediateswitch having an operating arm 175 (Fig. is brought into operation, asmore fully hereinafter set forth. The arm 175 operates in the samemanner as the actuating arms 64 and 72 of the other two switches, beingengaged by the counterweight 38 for operation both on the upwardmovement of the counterweight and on its downward movement.

Referring to the wiring diagram of Figure 13, the current is introducedfrom mains 100 and 192 through a main switch 194 and the main 190 isthus connected to one side 1% of the local therapeutic apparatus circuitand the main 192 is connected to the other side 198 of the localtherapeutic apparatus circuit. When the main switch 194 has been closedit is still necessary temporarily to close the local circuit through astarting button 200 in order to start the motor which moves the patientsbed up and down through the movement of the slides 10.

Movement of the starting button 200 into the closed position makes aconnection between the side 198 of the local circuit and a wire 202 thatis connected to one member 204 of a normally closed switch, the othermember of which is connected by a wire 206 with a solenoid coil 208which operates to swing simultaneously three switch members 218, 212,214 to the left in Figure 13, these switch members being interconnectedmechanically, but not electrically, and being normally urged into theposition shown in Figure 13 and only moved toward the left when the coil208 is energized. It will be seen that this energization of the coil 208moves the switch member 212 into contact with its cooperating switchmember which establishes a connection through wires 198, 215 and 216 andone side of the reversing switch to the wire 218 of the starting windingof the motor 48, thus completing a circuit for starting the motor 48,the other side 196 of the local main circuit being connected through oneside 228 of the reversing switch by wire 222 to the other side of thestarting winding of the motor 48. The running winding of the motor 48 isconnected by wires 224 and 226 to the two sides of the local circuit,these connections being in parallel with those to the starting winding.The reversing switch is made up of switch members 228 and 230mechanically interconnected and normally urged into the position shownin Figure 13 and is only moved into its reversing position when thesolenoid 232 is energized, as hereinafter more fully set forth. Thestarting button 200 is engaged only temporarily, after which the holdingcircuits and timers, hereinafter described, take over.

Starting of the motor 48 will cause the counterweight 38 to movesuccessively into circuit closing relation to the micro switches 234,236 and 238, assuming that the apparatus is set for the Berger system,or only in succession into circuit closing relation to the top microswitch 234 and to the bottom micro switch 238, these two switchesdefining the extreme limits of movement of the slide down and up,respectively, if the ordinary use of the apparatus is being made. Inthis connection it may be pointed out that the position controllingswitches, which have been designated generally by the reference numerals64, '72 and attached to their operating arms in Fig. 5, consistessentially of two switches each, as shown in the wiring diagram in Fig.13. For example, the operating arm 64 which through its roller 70 isengaged by the counterweight near the end of its upward movement, whichcorresponds to the downward movement of the bed, operates to close themicro-switch 234, which is normally spring urged to open position, andat the same time to open the micro-switch 240, which is normally springurged to closed position. In a smiliar manner, when the counterweightapproaches its lower position it engages the roller 78 on the switch arm72 and this serves to close the micro-switch 238, which is normallyspring urged to open position, and to open the micro switch 242, whichis normally spring urged to closed position. When the machine is beingoperated to give the Berger treatment, hereinabove defined, the rolleron the switch arm 175 is engaged by the counterweight as it moves ineither direction past this switch arm and, as it does so, it swingsthemicro-switch arm 236, which is normally spring urged into closedcircuit relation to the contact 301, to break this circuit and to moveinto circuitclosing relation to the other contact 302. The specificswitch constructions producing the aforementioned results are not hereinshown, being well known in the art and commercially available. Leavingout of consideration for the present any use of the apparatus for givingthe Berger treatment, at the same time that the counterweight 38 closesthe switch 234, the adjusted position of which determines the lowerlimit of movement of the slide 10, it opens the switch 240, associatedwith the switch 234, and, likewise, when it closes the switch 238, theadjusted position of which defines the upper limit of movement of gheslide 10, it opens the switch 242 associated therewit There are locatedin the circuits for controlling the operation of the slides 10, threetimers 244, 246 and 248 of the type which, when energized, hold open themotor starting circuit for a predetermined time and then close a relayactuating switch therein that permits the motor to resume operationafter a predetermined time. The operation of the timers 244, 246 and 248will be more clearly understood if it is borne in mind that, in a sense,they take the place of the starting button 200 for starts taking placeafter functional stops of predetermined lengths, that they are actuatedby the closing of the respective position switches 234, 236-302 and 238and that the stopping of the motor 46 in each instance is brought aboutby opening one of the associated position switches 240, 236301 and 242of the relay holding circuits, as more fully hereinafter set forth. Thetimer 244 is the one that controls the pause in the movement of theslides at the upper end of their path of travel before the slides 10start downward. The timer 248 controls the pause in the movement of theslides after they have reached their lowermost limit of movement beforethey start back upward and the timer 246 determines the pause in midposition when the Berger treatment hereinabove defined is beingadministered by the apparatus. Three relays are also shown, the relaysolenoid 208 operating, as hereinabove set forth, to swing to the left,in Figure 13, three mechanically interconnected switch arms 210, 212 and214, normally urged by spring or other suitable means not shown into theposition shown in Figure 13, in which the switch arm 210 closes acircuit that includes the wire 250 branching at 252 so that one branchgoes through the solenoid 254 and wire 256 to the switch constituting anelement of the timer 246 as hereinabove set forth and the other branchgoes through wire 258 and solenoid 232 both to the switch controlled bythe timer 246 and to the switch controlled by the timer 248. The relaysolenoid 254 acts upon three mechanically interconnected switch arms204, 260 and 262 normally urged into the position shown in Figure 13 butmovable to the left when solenoid 254 is energized so that the switcharms 260 and 262 cooperate with their stationary contacts to closecircuits to be described and the switch arm 204 breaks the normallyclosed circuit through the solenoid 208 hereinabove described.

As hereinabove pointed out, the solenoid 232, when energized, moves thereversing switch, comprising the mechanically interconnected switch arms228 and 230, to

the right to reverse the current flow through the field of the motor 48and thus reverse the direction of turning of the motor 48. It will beseen that this reversal of the motor by action of the solenoid 232 onlytakes place when the timer 248 has closed the switch therein after theslides 10 have reached their lowermost position and are ready to returnto their uppermost position. When the slides have reached theiruppermost position and the circuit through the relay 232 has been brokenit will be seen that the reversing switch, made up of the members 228and 230 normally urged into the position shown in Figure 13, Will returnto that position and the direction of turning of the motor 48 will againbe reversed preparatory to the up movement of the slides 10.

Let us assume that the machine has been stopped with the slides 10moving in the upward direction so that the counterweight 13 is movingdownward. The switch 194 having been closed to supply energy from themains 190 and 192 to the local circuit comprising the lines 196 and 198,this will not in itself close the circuit through the motor 48 if theparts are in the position shown in Figure 13. If new the push button 200be depressed to close the circuit hereinabove described that includesthe relay solenoid 208, the energized solenoid 208 will move the switcharms 210, 212 and 214 to the left in Figure 13 and close a motor circuitincluding the wires 198, 215, switch member 212, wire 216, reversingswitch member 230, wire 218, starting winding of the motor 220, wire222, reversing switch member 228 and wire 196. The starting of themotor, if the apparatus was stopped with the switch in the up timer 248closed and the relay 232 therefore in position to be energized, willcause the motor to turn in the direction to continue the up movement ofthe slides 10 until the counterweight 38 engages and closes themicro-switch 238 and engages and opens the micro-switch 242. The closingof the micro-switch 238 energizes the wire 264 and thus energizes thecoil of the timer 244 preparatory to closing the switch therethrough.The opening of the micro-switch 242 opens a circuit which includes awire 266, the switch arm 262, short wire 268 and wire 256, relaysolenoid 232, wire 258, switch member 210, wire 270 and wire 272 to thelocal main wire 196 on one side of the microswitch 242 and through wire274, micro-switch 236 and wire 276 to local main wire 198 on the otherside. The breaking of this circuit through which the relay solenoid 232was energized automatically permits the reversing switch to return tothe position shown in Figure 13 preparatory to the closing of thecircuit through the motor for the downward movement when the timer 244has operated to this end. When the timer 244 closes the circuit betweenits two contacts 278 and 280, one of which is connected with the localmain 198 and the other of which is connected with the wire 202 leadingto the switch arm 204, which is normally in the position shown in Figure13 when the relay solenoid 254 is not energized, then through wire 206,solenoid relay coil 208 and wire 272, back to the other side of thelocal main circuit, namely wire 196. This energization of the coil 208will move the interconnected switch arms 210, 212 and 214 to the left inFigure 13 and close the running circuit from wire 198 through wire 215,switch arm 212, wire 216 to the motor and cause it to start the downwardmovement of the slides 10.

As the slides 10 move downwardly the counterweight 38 moves upwardly andas it moves out of engagement with the micro-switches 238 and 242 themicro-switch 238 is again opened to break the circuit through theactuating coil of the timer 244 and the micro-switch 242 is closed tohelp complete a relay holding circuit. The moving of the switch 214 intocontact with its cooperating switch member closes a relay holdingcircuit which includes the wire 282, the micro-switch 240, the wire 284and the wire 276 running to the local main 198, wire 202, switch arm204, wire 206, relay coil 208 and wire 272 to the other local main 196.

Assuming that the Berger micro-switch 236 is not operating and that thetimer switch connecting the terminals 280 and 278 has opened after ithas been closed to energize the relay 208 the motor will continue tomove the slides 10 and the connected bed downward and the counterweight38 upward, the motor circuit having been closed by the energization ofthe relay 208 and the relay holding circuit having been closed throughswitch arm 214, wire 282, micro-switch 240, wire 284 and wire 276 tomain 198 on one side and wire,202,

switch arm 204, wire 206, relay coil 208 and wire 272 to main 196 on theother side. The upward movement of the counterweight will continue untilthe counterweight engages the micro-switches 234 and 240 and closes theswitch 234 and opens the switch 240. The closing of the switch 234 willclose a circuit through the actuating coil of the timer 248 and startthis timer to operating. The breaking of the switch 240 will break therelay holding circuit that includes the relay 208 and the switch member214.

When the timer 248 operates to close the switch connecting its terminals288 and 290, the closing of this switch in the timer 248 completes acircuit from the local main 198 through the timer switch, wire 292,relay 232, wire 2S8, wire 250, switch arm 210, which has now beenreturned to its closed circuit position, wire 270 and wire 272 to theother local main 196. The closed circuit just referred to energizes therelay 232 and through this relay operates the reversing switch 228, 230.

Closing of the switch in the timer 248 also closes a circuit whichincludes the relay 254, this circuit comprising a branch 256 from thewire 292 that runs through relay 254, wire 250, switch arm 210 in closedposition, Wire 270 and wire 272 to the local main 196. Energization ofrelay solenoid 254 operates to move to the left the interconnectedswitch arms 204, 260 and 262, the switch arm 260 closing a motoroperating circuit including Wire 294, wire 296 and wire 2116 running tothe reversing switch arm 230, the return circuit being the same as forthe other relay. Movement of the switch arm 262 into closed circuitposition closed the relay holding circuit which includes wire 268, wire256, relay 254, wire 250, switch arm 210, wire 270 and wire 272 to thelocal main 196 on one side and wire 266, microswitch 242, wire 274,micro-switch 236 and wire 276 to local main 198 on the other side. Thisis the relay holding circuit that is broken when the slides 10 reach theupper limit of their movement and the counterweight opens the normallyclosed micro-switch 242.

As hereinabove pointed out, the timer 246 is used when the Bergertreatment is to be administered. In the Berger treatment there is amovement from the lowest position up to an intermediate or horizontalposition, a rest in this position determined by the setting of the timer246 and then a movement into the uppermost position. On the returnmovement there is also a period of rest.

The connections to the micro-switch 236 for causing the mid pause whengiving the Berger treatment are shown in Figure 13 of the drawings, thatis with the switch arm 298 in its open position and the switch arm 300in its closed position. With the connections shown, when themicro-switch 236 is moved away from its normally closed contact 301 tothe contact 302 it establishes a circuit through the actuating coil ofthe timer 246 and breaks the holding circuit that kept the relays 232and 254 energized, thereby interrupting the current to the motor 220 andstopping the movement of the slides 10. The circuit through the timer246 includes the wire 276 from the local main 198, the micro-switch arm236, the wire 304, the switch arm 300, the wire 306, the timer coil andthe wire 308 back to the local main 196. The holding circuit that isbroken by the movement of the micro-switch arm 236 away from its contact301 includes the wire 276, the wire 274, the microswitch 242, the wire266, the switch arm 262, wire 268, wire 256, solenoid relay coil 254,wire 250, switch arm 210, wire 270 and wire 272. A shunt in this circuitin parallel with the coil 254 also kept the relay solenoid coil 232energized.

Closing of the timer switch connecting the timer contacts 310 and 312again starts the motor 48 and permits the return of the micro-switch arm236 to the contact 301, thus reestablishing the holding circuit at thesame time that the relay coils 254 and 232 are re-energized,

When the slides 10 are moving in the other direction, that is down, andthe weight is moving up, the holding circuit, which has been establishedby the energization of the coil 208 and which is broken by the movementof the micro-switch arm 236 away from its contact 301, is the following:Wire 276 from local main 198, wire 284, micro-switch 240, wire 282,switch arm 214, wire 202, switch arm 204, wire 206, relay coil 208 andwire 272, back to the other local main 196.

When the intermediate micro-switch 236 is not to operate, that is whenthe Berger treatment is'notto be given, the switch arm 298 is moved toclosed position and the switch arm 300 is moved to open position. Theholding circuit for the relay 254 is then as follows: Wire 272 fromlocal main 196, wire 270, switch 210, wire 250, coil 254, wire 268,switch 262, wire 266, switch 242, wire 27 4, switch 298 and wire 276back to local main 198.

The motor 43 may be either an alternating current motor or a directcurrent motor but there are some advantages, so far as noise ofoperation of the apparatus is concerned, in the use of a direct currentmotor. There is also the further advantage that the speed of operationof the apparatus may be more readily changed by changing the speed ofoperation of the motor through a rheostat or other suitable means.

When the building current, as is now usual, is alternating current asuitable converter can be interposed between the current supply and theapparatus or may be made a part of the apparatus, thus making possiblethe use of a direct current motor.

It will be seen also that, where V-belt pulleys such as 52 and 54 areemployed, these may be of the speed varying type, thus making possiblevariation of speed by varying the relative belt engaging diameters ofthe V-belt pulleys.

It will also be seen that the apparatus lends itself to the addition ofother control means such, for example, as a program timer enabling thedoctor to set the apparatus for operation at certain periods of timeduring the day or night. Timers that may be connected to the mainstarting and stopping mechanism of the machine for this purpose arealready on the market and, in themselves, do not constitute a part ofthe present invention.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A therapeutic appliance comprising, in combination, a supportingframe, a member vertically reciprocable on said frame, means forreciprocating said member, and means for connecting said reciprocablemember to one end of a patients bed to impart oscillating movement tothe entire bed about the floor-supported other end thereof, the meansfor reciprocating the reciprocable member comprising an electric motorhaving a positive driving connection to said member and means, operatingat the predetermined end of each stroke of the reciprocating member, toeffect the reversal of the direction of rotation of said motor.

2. A therapeutic appliance comprising, in combination, a supportingframe, a member vertically reciprocable on said frame, means forreciprocating said member, and means for connecting said reciprocablemember to one end of a patients bed to impart oscillating movement tothe entire bed about the floor-supported other end thereof, the meansfor effecting the reciprocation of the reciprocable member comprising anelectric motor having positive driving connections to said reciprocablememher and means for effecting a reversal of the direction of rotationof said motor at the end of the movement of said member in eitherdirection, said means including a switch in a relay circuit arranged tobe closed by engagement with a part movably connected to saidreciprocable member.

3. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 2 in which the switch isadjustable along the path of movement of the movable switch-actuatingpart to vary the amplitude of the reciprocating movement.

4. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 2 in which a switchoperable at each end of the reciprocating movement of the reciprocatingmember effects the reversal of the motor, whereby the amplitude of thereciprocating movement is determined, and in which the position of eachswitch is adjustable independently of the other to vary independentlythat part of the total oscillating movement imparted to the patients bedwhich is above or below the horizontal position of said bed.

5. A therapeutic appliance comprising, in combination, a supportingframe, a member vertically reciprocable on said frame and adapted tocarry with it one end of the patients bed, an electric motor foreffecting the reciprocation of said member and reversing means,including switches in the path of a part connected to said reciprocatingmember to be operated thereby, and relays controlled by said switchesfor stopping the movement of said reciprocating member by said motor inone direction and causing it to move in the reverse direction.

6. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 5 in which the switchoperating part connected to said reciprocating member comprises acounterweight for counterbalancing the weight imposed upon said memberby the connected bed end and the patient upon the bed.

7. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 5 in which timer operatedswitches are interposed between the terminal determining switches andthe associated relays for providing a predetermined period of restbefore each return movement of the reciprocating member.

8. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 5 in which a switch,located between the terminal determining switches and operated by thesame switch operating part at an intermediate point in its movement, hasconnections for stopping the movement of said reciprocating member bysaid motor, and a timer operated movement restoring switch actuated bysaid intermediate switch for providing a predetermined period of restwhen said reciprocating member is at an intermediate point in itsmovement in either direction.

9. A therapeutic appliance comprising, in combination, a supportingframe, a member vertically reciprocable on said frame and adapted tocarry with it one end of the patients bed, an electric motor foreffecting the reciprocation of said member, means for reversing theoperation of said motor at the end of the movement of said reciprocatingmember in each direction, said means including a reversing switchnormally urged into position to control the operation of the motor inone direction, electromagnetic switch operating means for moving saidswitch into current reversing position, relay operated switches forcontrolling the energization of said motor and the energization of saidelectromagnetic switch-operating means, and micro-switches in the pathof movement of a part connected to said reciprocating member forcontrolling the energization of said relays, said micro-switches beingvertically adjustable to provide for ldifferent lengths of stroke ofsaid reciprocating mem- 10. A therapeutic appliance comprising, incombination, a supporting frame, a slide vertically reciprocable on saidframe and adapted to be connected to one end of a patients bed to effectan oscillation thereof about the floor-supported other bed end, meansfor effecting the reciprocation of said slide including an electricmotor having driving connections to said slide, means for reversing thedirection of rotation of the motor at the end of each stroke of saidreciprocable slide, and means for controlling the operation of saidreversing means, including switches operable from a part connected tosaid slide when said slide reaches a predetermined position in eachdirection, the position of said switches being aldg'iustable to vary theamplitude of reciprocation of said 5 1 e.

11. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 10 in which each switchis adjustable independently of the other and has a position indicatorconnected thereto.

12. A therapeutic appliance comprising, in combination, a supportingframe, a slide vertically reciprocable on said frame and adapted to beconnected to one end of the patients bed to effect oscillation of saidbed about the floor-supported other bed end, a counterweight connectedto said slide for counterbalancing the weight imposed thereon by theattachment of the patient carrying bed thereto, means, including anelectric motor having driving connections to said counterweighted slide,for effecting a positive reciprocation of said parts, a switch operableby one of said reciprocating parts when the slide has reached apredetermined height for causing the stopping of said motor, a switchoperable by one of said reciprocating parts when said slide has reacheda predetermined low position for effecting the stopping of said motor,and means for effecting the starting of said motor after each stoppingoperation, including a timer controlled switch actuated by one of saidaforementioned limit switches, and a reversing switch and a relaycontrolling the operation thereof associated with each limit switch.

13. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 12 in which a holdingcircuit including the relay is arranged to be closed when the relay isenergized by the operation of the timer controlled switch associatedwith either relay.

14. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 13 in which each relayholding circuit includes a normally closed switch so located as to beopened to break the relzliy lholding circuit when the associated limitswitch is c ose 15. A therapeutic appliance comprising, in combination,a supporting frame, a member vertically reciprocable on said frame andadapted to carry with it one end of the patients bed, an electric motorhaving connections to said reciprocable member to effect a positivereciprocation thereof, and means for stopping said motor and reversingthe operation thereof at the end of the movement of said reciprocablemember in each direction, said means including a normally open switch inthe path of movement of a part connected to said reciprocable member, anormally closed switch also in said path, a timer controlled relayenergizing switch, a motor energizing circuit closed by said energizedrelay, and a relay holding circuit also closed by said energized relay,the first mentioned switch when closed serving to actuate said timer andthe second mentioned switch when opened serving to break the holdingcircuit for the relay controlling the movement of the reciprocablemember up to the point of operation of said switches.

16. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 15 in which anintermediate switch and a timer actuated relay controlling switchoperate to break said motor circuit and said relayholding circuit and toactuate said timer to eflect a predetermined period of rest at anintermediate point in the movement of the reciprocable member.

17. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 15 in which thereciprocable member is made up of laterally spaced slidesdriven byconnections to a common motor driven shaft.

18. A therapeutic appliance according to claim 15 in which the timeractuating normally open switch and the relay holding circuit normallyclosed switch are simultaneously adjustable vertically to vary theamplitude of movement of the reciprocable member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS897,791 Seeber Sept. 1, 1908 1,110,920 Gibson Sept. 15, 1914 1,328,802Anderson Jan. 27, 1920 1,803,887 Barnes May 5, 1931 2,566,239 MininbergAug. 28, 1951

